Pyrénées-Orientales: Very favorable evolution of the Opoul and Millas fires before a particularly dreaded night

Two fires were still active this Wednesday evening in the Pyrénées-Orientales department. Their evolution was favorable even if the weather conditions of the night called for the greatest vigilance.

After almost 48 hours of fierce fighting against the fires ravaging part of the Pyrénées-Orientales department, the firefighters hoped to overcome the last two outbreaks, that of Opoul and Millas.

Opoul fire – 1100 hectares burned

This Wednesday evening, the balance sheet was unchanged from that of the end of the day. The largest fire of the past 24 hours had thus always ravaged 1,100 hectares between Opoul and Salses. The “front” sector of the fire (the one closest to the town of Salses) was also fixed. The sectors to the left (to the north towards Opoul) and to the right (towards the military camp between Salses and Rivesaltes) were deemed favorable. 320 firefighters (including 200 from Sdis 66) were still on site for the night when surveillance was expected to be very active, a change in wind direction could disrupt this development. The Tramontane is indeed announced for this night and could come to complicate the task of the soldiers of the fire.

Read also :
Fires in the Pyrénées-Orientales: according to Gérald Darmanin, “there may be a doubt that it is an arsonist”

Millas fire – 75 hectares burned

Occurring on the side of the road, in the Col de la Bataille, this fire was under control, this Wednesday at the end of the evening. The reopening of high voltage lines was even considered before nightfall. For several hours, the fire had not progressed and remained fixed at 75 hectares of scrubland gone up in smoke.

16 vehicles were preparing to spend the night on the spot in order to avoid any recovery in the event of a change of wind.

Read also :
Fires in the Pyrénées-Orientales: “Everyone thought the campsite was going to burn”

source site